A South San Francisco police officer who was left in critical condition Thursday after being hit in the head by a suspect's skateboard was identified Friday, police said. Christie Smith reports. (Published Friday, Nov. 25, 2016)

A South San Francisco police officer who was left in critical condition Thursday after being hit in the head by a suspect's skateboard was identified Friday, police said.

The violent attack started around 2:20 p.m. Thursday near the 300 block of Grand Avenue when officer Robby Chon, a 12-year veteran of the force, attempted to approach a suspect reportedly disturbing the peace at a local business, police said. The suspect, who was later identified as Luis Alberto Ramos-Coreas, a 28-year-old resident of South Francisco, did not yield to the officer's commands, prompting Chon to call for backup.

When a second officer arrived, Ramos-Coreas took off from the scene on foot, according to police. During a subsequent chase, Ramos-Coreas immediately came to a screeching halt, pivoted and smacked Chon in the head with the skateboard.

Robby Chon
Photo credit: South San Francisco Police Department

Chon, who is married with two children, was transported to a local hospital with a "major head injury" and taken into the operating room, police said.

"The officer underwent emergency surgery for traumatic head injuries," police said in a press conference Friday. "He remains hospitalized in critical condition at this time."

The second officer on scene was able to detain Ramos-Coreas after another brief foot pursuit, police said. Ramos-Coreas was booked on suspicion of numerous felony charges, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.

Ramos-Coreas does have a history of "criminal contacts" with police, but the specifics of those run-ins were not detailed by officials.